Malala: From A Grief-Stricken Name to An Inspiration Around the World

Many of us love holidays or suspensions of school days, right? No classes, no assignments, no exams, and no performance tasks! As a student, I am guilty of feeling that way too. But can you imagine not having a school to attend to? In many places, such as Pakistan, disadvantaged children, especially girls, cannot attend school. Thankfully, a young girl named Malala Yousafzai bravely stood up for education.

Malala Yousafzai is a huge example of a strong woman and how powerful anyone can be at any age or gender. Born in Mingora, Pakistan, Malala grew up in a region, the Taliban where they suppressed education for girls. Despite the risks, Malala became an advocate for women’s education at 11 years old, appearing in the news. Many newspapers and television channels wrote about her brave speech and broadcast it too. Can you imagine appearing in the news at such a young age not because you were a celebrity, but because you dared to share what you thought was right despite having a lot of risks? Now, that’s what I like to call a “she-ro”!

Malala Yousafzai

Because of this, some reporters from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Urdu website had an idea. They wanted a schoolgirl from Swat Valley to write an internet diary about their life. It was a dangerous job having a lot of risks leading to only a few girls wanting to take it. However, Malala decided that she would do it. Her father knew that it was dangerous for her, but he supported his daughter in his choice. One diary entry she had was entitled “I AM AFRAID”. It talked about a nightmare she had and the decreased amount of girls attending school. Her bravery caused her a lot of global attention, but it also made her a target. In 2012, she survived a near-fatal attack when she was shot by a gun on her school bus. By then, she had a lot of supporters and moved to England while being given good medical treatment.

I am afraid - 3 January 2009

"I had a terrible dream yesterday with military helicopters and the Taliban. I have had such dreams since the launch of the military operation in Swat. I was afraid going to school because the Taliban had issued an edict banning all girls from attending schools.

Only 11 students attended the class out of 27. The number decreased because of Taliban's edict.

On my way from school to home I heard a man saying 'I will kill you'. I hastened my pace... to my utter relief he was talking on his mobile and must have been threatening someone else over the phone."

Through her recovery, she became stronger and dedicated to continue fighting for women’s rights. She went to speak at the United Nations on July 12, 2013. “How dare they take away my right to education?” she strongly said, also stating that the attack had only made her stronger. She also co-founded the Malala Fund to expand her mission, ensuring girls worldwide have access to 12 years of free, safe, and quality education. Because of this, more leaders and institutions across the world have known about this, leading to law changes and funding initiatives. At just 17, she became the youngest awardee of the Nobel Peace Prize serving as a testament to her enduring dedication.

As Malala Yousafzai once said, "One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world." We must always stand up for what we believe is right, just as she did with education as it can have a huge impact on the people. Malala may mean grief-stricken, but to many people, Malala Yousafzai is a symbol of joy and hope. She reminds us that anyone, at any age, at any place, can fight for justice.

A ZONTA FEATURE